Manufacture of filter tips for cigarettes



June 14, 1938. R 5 MAY I I 2,120,501

MANUFACTURE OF FILTER TIPS FOR CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 31, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY June 14, 1938.

R. F. MAY MANUFACTURE OF FILTER TIPS FOR-CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 31, 1935 2 Sheets-sheaf? \NVENTOR ROWLAND FRANK MAY B ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES MANUFACTURE OF FILTER TIPS FOR CIG- ARETTES Rowland Frank May, Potters Bar, England, as-

signor to Filter Tips Limited, London, England,

a British company Application October 31, 1935, Serial No. 47,705 In Great Britain November 2, 1934 17 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarettes and is particularly concerned with the production of filter tip or like mouthpieces therefor of the kind in which strips of material are rolled into a spiral formation.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved simple and effective method of and means for producing compact rolled tips or mouthpieces of true spiral formation without any central hole or regular or irregular folding or bunching of the leading end of the strip forming the central part of the tip or mouthpiece.

According to the present invention, a strip of material fed forward by and carried upon a travelling member, such as the periphery of a disc or drum, is engaged at its leading edge by means of a roller rotating in the reverse direction and acting in conjunction with suitably disposed guiding means arranged in advance of the roller to turn the leading edge of the material up and to return it upon the strip so as to form a tightly coiled spiral formation which, on building up to a predetermined or suitable size, is discharged forwardly away from the aforesaid guiding means into engagement with a counter surface, preferably resiliently mounted, arranged in relation to the disc or drum so that the spiral winding of the remainder of the strip is effected therebetween, the roller being arranged so as to move out of the path of the spiral formation to permit of its forward discharge.

The invention also includes a method for the manufacture of filter tips for cigarettes wherein strips of material are rolled into cylindrical formation by engagement between relatively moving surfaces, characterized in that the spiral formation is initiated by causing the leading end of the strip to engage the periphery of an oppositely moving roller suitably arranged in relation to the surface carrying the material and to stationary inclined guiding means disposed in advance of the roller, the roller being capable of movement away from the surface carrying the material whereby the partially rolled strip passes into engagement with the counter rolling surface.

Engagement of the leading end of the strip with the roller is ensured by normally disposing the roller so that it is nearly in contact with the surface of the member carrying the strip. Alternatively, engagement of the leading end of the strip may be ensured by disposing the roller so that ribs thereon project slightly into grooves in the member carrying the strip. After the roller has been moved away by the partially rolled strip from the surface carrying the same, it is maintained out of engagement during the passage of the remainder of the strip.

In amodification, the roller is normally spaced from the surface of the member carrying the strip at a distance greater than the thickness of the material, and the leading end of the strip is guided into engagement with the roller by the provision of suitably arranged fingers. These fingers may be caused to move out of engagement with the strip after the spiral formation is initiated.

The rolled strip received in a suitable chamber may be positioned for discharge axially through a suitable bore or spoon by means of hook-like members mounted and operated so as to engage above the rolled strip in the chamber.

The product consisting of the rolled strip material may be enclosed in a paper tube or wrapper and the strip material employed may be of such Width as to provide a filling the length of which is double the length of the filter tip to be produced or a multiple of such length.

Apparatus for carrying out the method hereinbefore specified may comprise drum or equivalent carrier, a roller mounted and driven so that its periphery moves in opposition to the surface of the drum or carrier and normally resiliently pressed towards such surface, inclined guiding means arranged immediately in advance of the roller and enclosing, in conjunction with the roller and the surface carrying the strip, a space in which the formation of the initial spiral is effected, a smooth feed member arranged to press the strip against the surface of the drum or carrier so that the strip is fed into the said space, and a member providing a counter rolling surface arranged to engage the initial spiral formed by the action of the roller for the completion of the rolling operation.

The roller may be positioned by means of a suitable stop so that its periphery is nearly in contact with the surface carrying the strip, or ribs on the roller may project slightly into slots in the drum or carrier, and spring toggle mechanism is provided in connection with the roller-supporting means to ensure that the roller is' held out of engagement with the strip after the initial spiral has been formed.

Alternatively the roller may be positioned by means of a stop so that its periphery is spaced from the surface of the drum or carrier at a distance greater than the thickness of the material. Spring means are provided for normally pressing the roller towards the drum or carrier and fingers extending in slots in the drum or carrier are arranged to direct the lea-ding end of the strip into engagement with the roller, cam mechanism being provided to move the fingers out of engagement with the strip after the spiral has been initiated.

The inclined guide disposed immediately in advance of the roller may be constituted by part of the presser feed member, which is pressed towards the surface of the drum or carrier by spring means, stops being provided to restrict outward movement of the presser member away from the drum or carrier and to prevent the presser member from contacting with the drum or carrier when strip material is not being fed.

The member providing the counter rolling surface preferably is pivotally mounted and resiliently pressed towards the drum or carrier, the normal position of such member being determined by a suitable stop. Preferably also the member providing the counter rolling surface is mounted on a pivotal support arranged so that the said member can be swung clear away from the drum or carrier if desired.

A receiving chamber of substantially C formation is associated with the outlet end of the counter rolling member and the rolled strip material is positioned in the receiving chamber by means of hook-like members or claws accommodated in slots in the drum or carrier and operated by cam mechanism so as to engage above the rolled strip.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation illustrating one construction of apparatus in accordance with the invention and showing the parts in the relative positions occupied prior to the commencement of the rolling operation on the material;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in the relative positions occupied after the rolling operation;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modification; and

Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating the disposition of certain parts after the rolling of the material has commenced.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one embodiment, strips l of material are fed on to the periphery of a drum 2 by any suitable means, such as a feed roller 3 co-operating with a guide 4, and the strip material is held in engagement with the periphery of the drum 2 by means of a presser member 5 having a suitably curved and polished under surface for engaging with the material and permitting it to be moved forward freely by the action of the drum 2, the periphery of which is transversely grooved or roughened or provided with a suitable frictional surface. A roller 6, likewise having a grooved or roughened frictional peripheral surface and of relatively small diameter, is mounted upon an arm 1 or arms pivoted about the axis of a gear 8 by which motion is transmitted through a gear 60. to the roller 6, the gear 8 preferably being driven by a gear mounted on the shaft of the drum 2. The arm I is extended beyond the roller 6 and is pivoted to a link 9 which in turn is pivoted to a fitting l mounted on a spring I I, this arrangement constituting a spring toggle linkage whereby the roller 6 is maintained either in a lower position determined by a stop I 2 in which it is nearly in contact with the periphery of the drum 2, or in an upper position determined by a stop l2a. in which it is spaced from the drum 2. Spring I I in the embodiment shown is a flat spring, the lower end of which is fixed into a slot in a bolt as shown, the bolt having a lock nut so that by adjusting the bolt about its axes in one direction or the other the tension of the spring I I may be adjusted. In advance of the roller 6, that is to say, on the side of the roller 6 adjacent the strip material feeding means, an inclined guide 50. is provided which is slotted so that it may be disposed closely adjacent the common centre line of the roller 6 and of the drum 2 and whereby, in conjunction with the roller 6, the leading edge of the strip material is turned over and back upon itself to form a compact tightly coiled spiral formation. As the spiral builds up the roller 6 is pressed outwards and eventually moves out of engagement with the material under the influence of the spring toggle linkage and thereupon ceases to exert any rolling action on the material, the spiral formed then contacting with a counter rolling surface [3a provided upon a suitably curved member l3 which is provided with extended fingers or par-ts [3b which normally are accommodated in circumferential slots 62) in the roller 6. The curved member I3 is associated at its lower end with a receiving chamber M which is substantially of 0 formation and in which the completed spiral I a is located in alignment with a discharge bore.

The return of the spring toggle linkage from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1 is effected by means such as a cam 20 engaging a roller la on an arm lb connected to the arm 1.

The inclined guide 5120 referred to may be constituted by an extending part or parts of the curved member l3 but preferably is provided upon the presser member which is influenced by a spring 51) so as to maintain the material in engagement with the drum 2 and has its upward movement limited by an adjustable stop I500. In order to prevent the presser member 5 from contacting with the drum 2, during the intervals when strip material is not passing therebetween, an adjustable stop I5 is provided. In order to avoid any possibility of lateral deviation of the material during rolling, the drum 2 may be provided with segmental rims 2a. or the equivalent adapted to engage the lateral edges of the material. Furthermore, if required, the curved member I3 may be provided with lateral guides (not shown).

In order to ensure the alignment of the completed spiral Ia with the discharge bore, pivoted claws or fingers [6 are operated, for instance by a cam 11 and return spring Ila, such claws or fingers being normally accommodated in circumferential grooves 2b in the drum 2 which may be constructed of spaced discs and, prior to the forward movement of the ejecting plunger, the claws or fingers it are operated so as to move into the position shown in Figure 2 in which they engage above the spiral I a in the receiving chamber l4 and thus position the same ready for ejection through the discharge bore, it being understood that the claws or fingers l6, when in the position shown in Figure 2, form with the receiving chamber l4 tubular constricting means for the spiral la.

Fingers [8 extending through the circumferential grooves 2b in the drum 2 may be provided to ensure that the leading end of the strip material engages the roller 6 and is turned over thereby. These fingers l8 may be pivotally mounted and may be spring or gravity loaded.

The curved member l3 may be pivoted on a support 22 and in order to exert resilient pressure upon the material during the rolling operation the curved member I3 is pressed towards the drum 2 by means of a spring |3c or springs and its normal position is determined by an adjustable stop 22a. The support 22 advantageously is pivoted at 22b, the lower part of the support 22 being forked to accommodate the claws or fingers l6, and the support 22 is normally held in the position shown as by means of a cone screw 220 at each side. It will be appreciated that by unscrewing these cone screws 220 the support 22 may be allowed to drop carrying with it the curved member 13 .and thus permitting ready access to the whole of the rolling mechanism.

The feed roller 3 may be formed with a slot or cut-away portion 3a. and may be driven through gears 3b, 3c, 302, from the gear 8. The slot or cut-away part 311 enables the strip material fed by any suitable means from the feed table Illa to be positioned beneath the feed roller 3 and cut off by the knife 19 before it is engaged by the roller 3 and fed forward thereby to the drum 2.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the spring toggle linkage referred to is dispensed with and the arm 1d carrying the roller 5 is spring loaded by means of a spring 20 connected to an upwardly extending portion lc of arm 7d and the stop I2 is adjusted so that the roller 5 is normally spaced from the periphery of the drum 2 at a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the material. Furthermore, the fingers 28 are pivoted at 28a and are operated by means of a cam 2| and spring Zia engaged by roller 28c carried by arm 28b of the fingers 28a so that after the leading end of the material has been directed into engagement with the roller 6 and a spiral formation has been produced by the co-operation of the roller 6, the inclined guides 5a and the drum 2, the fingers 28 move downwardly into the position shown in Figure 4 so that the material is free to pass between the roller 6 and the drum 2 while the rolling is completed between the drum 2 and the curved member 13. The roller 6 is raised momentarily against the action of the spring 20 while the initial spiral formation passes into engagement with the curved member l3.

By adjustment of the spring toggle linkage shown in Figure 1 and of the spring 20 shown in Figure 3, the degree of compactness of the central portion of the spiral may be varied, while by adjusting the spring 830 or the position of the support 22, the character of the complete spiral as regards tightness of rolling may be varied. The adjustment of the spring toggle linkage may be effected by varying the tension of the spring I! as mentioned above and/or by adjusting the position of the member ID along the length of the spring H. It will be obvious that if the member I0 is moved further down the spring, the initial angle of the toggle links will be less and the roller 6 will be displaced more readily and vice versa. These adjustments, however, are not of a critical nature and the apparatus enables strip material to be rolled into true spiral formation in a very simple and effective manner. It will be noted that the material moves forward continuously towards the final receiving chamber M and that the feed of a succeeding strip of material may be commenced before the rolling of the previous strip has been completed. The mechanism is therefore capable of operating at high speed. Furthermore, the mechanism is readily adaptable for the production of single length filter tips or of double or multiple lengths of filter tip filling which may be ejected axially through a spoon or other means for the application of a paper tube or wrapping thereto if desired, or may be used directly or indirectly for the manufacture of filter tip cigarettes in any desired manner.

The invention is particularly applicable for the production of filter tips or like mouthpieces from strip material embodying layers of crepe paper or the like with or without intervening layers of absorbent material.

The peripheral speed of the roller 6 may be equal to or greater or slower than the peripheral speed of the drum 2. Within fairly wide limits the peripheral speed of the roller 6 in relation to the speed of the drum 2 has very little influence on the effectiveness of the rolling operation or upon the character of the product.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment hereinbefore described. For example, in place of a drum used in conjunction with a curved member, an endless band or other conveyor may be employed in conjunction with a counter rolling surface which may be straight or slightly curved. Furthermore, the spring toggle linkage shown in Figures l and 2 may, if desired, be used in conjunction with the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 and the mechanism for the operation of the several parts may be modified in various ways.

What I claim is:

1. A method of producing filter tips for cigarettes, comprising feeding a strip of material forward upon a travelling member, engaging the leading edge of the strip with a surface moving in the reverse direction to turn the leading edge of the material up and to return it upon the strip, and confining the turned-over edge to form a tightly coiled spiral formation.

2. In the method for the manufacture of filter tips for cigarettes by rolling strips of material into cylindrical spiral formations between relatively moving surfaces, the step of initiating the spiral formation comprising moving a surface carrying a strip of material relatively to an oppositely moving surface with the strip of material out of contact with said oppositely moving surface, displacing the leading end of said strip away from the surface carrying the same into engagement with said oppositely moving surface to turn said edge over against a confining surface disposed in advance of said oppositely moving surface to produce a tightly coiled formation, and thereafter discharging the coiled formation past the oppositely moving surface.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein engagement of the leading edge of the strip with the reversely moving surface is ensured by normally disposing the latter so that it is nearly in contact with the surface of the member carrying the strip.

4. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reversely moving surface is spaced from the surface of the member carrying the strip at a dis tance greater than the thickness of the material.-

5. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip'formations for cigarettes, comprising a carrier, a roller mounted and driven in the same direction as the carrier so that the juxtaposed surfaces of the roller and carrier travel in opposite directions, means'normally resiliently pressing said roller towards said carrier surface, inclined guiding means arranged immediately in advance of the roller and enclosing, in conjunction with the roller and the surface carrying the strip, a space in which the formation of the initial spiral is effected, and a smooth presser member arranged to press the strip against the surface of the carrier so that the strip is fed into the said space.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including stop means for positioning the spring-pressed roller so that its periphery is spaced from the surface of the carrier at a distance greater than the thickness of the material, said carrier having slots formed in the surface thereof and fingers extending in said slots to direct the leading end of the strip into engagement with the roller.

'7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inclined guide disposed immediately in advance of the roller is formed as part of the presser member.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including spring means for pressing the presser member towards the surface of the carrier, and stops to restrict outward movement of the presser member away from the carrier and to prevent said presser member from contacting with the carrier when strip material is not being fed.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including a pivotally mounted counter rolling member adapted to cooperate with the carrier surface tocomplete the winding of the spiral, means resiliently pressing said counter rolling member towards the carrier, and stop means for setting the position of said member.

10. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formations for cigarettes, comprising a carrier, a roller mounted and driven in the same direction as the carrier so that the juxtaposed surfaces of the roller and carrier travel in opposite directions, means normally resiliently pressing said roller towards said carrier surface, inclined guiding means arranged immediately in advance of the roller and enclosing, in conjunction with the roller and the surface carrying the strip, a space in which the formation of the initial spiral is effected, a smooth pressure member carrying said guiding means and arranged to press the strip against the surface of the carrier so that the strip is fed into said space, and a member spaced from said carrier surface a distance sufiicient to engage the initial spiral formed to complete the winding of the spiral formation.

11. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formations for cigarettes, comprising a carrier, a roller mounted and driven in the same direction as the carrier so that the juxtaposed surfaces of the roller and carrier travel in opposite directions, means normally resiliently pressing said roller towards said carrier surface, inclined guiding means arranged immediately in advance of the roller and enclosing, in conjunction with the roller and the surface carrying the strip, a space in which the formation of the initial spiral is effected, a smooth presser member carrying said guiding means and arranged to press the strip against the surface of the carrier so that the strip is fed into said space, and stop means for limiting the movement of the roller toward the carrier surface so that the periphery of the roller is nearly in contact with said carrier surface.

12. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formations for cigarettes, comprising a carrier, a roller mounted and driven in the same direction as the carrier so that the juxtaposed surfaces of the roller and carrier travel in opposite directions, means normally resiliently pressing said roller towards said carrier surface, inclined guiding means arranged immediately in advance of the roller and enclosing, in conjunction with the roller and the surface carrying the strip, a space in which the formation of the initial spiral is effected, a smooth presser member carrying said guiding means and arranged to press the strip against the surface of the carrier so that the strip is fed into said space, stop means for limiting the movement of the roller toward the carrier surface so that the periphery of the roller is nearly in contact with said carrier surface, and spring toggle mechanism associated with the roller-pressing means to hold the roller out of engagement with the strip after the spiral formation reaches a predetermined size.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, including stop means for positioning the spring-pressed roller so that its periphery is spaced from the surface of the carrier at a distance greater than the thickness of the material, said carrier having slots formed in the surface thereof and fingers extending in said slots to direct the leading end of the strip into engagement with the roller, and cam mechanism to move the fingers out of engagement with the strip after the spiral has been initiated.

14. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formation for cigarettes, comprising a rotary drum, means for feeding a strip of material to the surface of said drum, a roller having its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and its periphery slightly spaced from the surface of the drum, means for rotating said roller in the same direction as the drum so that their adjacent peripheral portions move in opposite directions, means for moving the leading edge of the strip away from the surface of the drum into engagement with the periphery of the roller to cause said edge to roll back upon the strip and initiate the spiral winding of said strip, and confining means disposed in advance of said roller to cooperate with the roller to produce a tightly coiled formation which is subsequently discharged past said roller.

15. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formation for cigarettes, comprising a rotary drum, means for feeding a strip of material to'the surface of said drum, a roller having its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and mounted for movement toward and away from the surface of the drum, resilient means urging said roller toward said drum, means for limiting movement of the roller toward said drum to maintain a space between the surface of the drum and the periphery of the roller slightly greater than the thickness of the strip, a pressing member for holding said strip onto the surface of the drum, said pressing member terminating adjacent the roller and providing a space between the end of said member, the drum and the roller, and means for moving the leading edge'of the strip away from the surface of the drum into engagement with the periphery of the roller to cause said edge to roll back upon the strip and initiate the spiral winding of said strip in said space.

16. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formation for cigarettes, comprising a rotary drum, means for feeding a strip of material to the surface of said drum, a roller having its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and mounted for movement toward and away from the surface of the drum, resilient means urging said roller toward said drum, means for limiting movement of the roller toward said drum to maintain a space between the surface of the drum and the periphery of the roller slightly greater than the thickness of the strip, a pressing member for holding said strip onto the surface of the drum, resilient means urging said pressing member toward the drum, stops for limiting movement of said pressing member, said pressing member terminating adjacent the roller and providing a space between the end of said member, the drum and the roller, the length of the surface of said pressing member facing the drum being shorter than the opposite surface to provide an inclined face on the end of said member adjacent the roller, and means for bringing the leading edge of said strip into engagement with said roller to turn said edge back upon the strip and to bring it into engagement with said inclined surface to initiate the winding of said strip into a spiral formation.

17. An apparatus for producing cylindrical spiral filter tip formation for cigarettes, comprising a rotary drum, means for feeding a strip of material to the surface of said drum, a roller having its axis parallel to the axis of the drum and its periphery slightly spaced from the surface of the drum, means for rotating said roller in the same direction as the drum so that their adjacent peripheral portions move in opposite directions, and confining means in advance of the roller for engaging the leading edge of said strip turned back upon the strip by the roller and directing it toward the strip to initiate the winding 

